Lima Township is a rural area with no commercial hub
About 15 miles west of Ann Arbor, Lima Township is a rural community of over 4,000 people. Surrounded by farmlands and green spaces, the area is otherwise entirely residential, drawing residents looking for elbow room and a serene atmosphere. "Most of the area is agricultural – there's no commercial hub," says Charlie Koenn, a broker with Swisher Commercial. "It's more of a quiet, country feel – a lot of gravel and dirt roads." High-ranked schools and modern architecture are other appealing factors for many potential homeowners.
Most home lots have a 5-acre minimum
With a 5-acre minimum lot size for most of the area, the township generally avoids traditional subdivisions. Instead, space provides homes with privacy and increased room for foliage or additions like sheds and pole barns. The area surrounding Fourmile Lake has some of the largest lots and ranch-style homes with farmhouse accents. In the center of the region is the community of Jerusalem, which has a variety of millennial mansions. The few suburban-style subdivisions in the area tend to be closer to the surrounding cities of Dexter and Chelsea. These neighborhoods are the newest developments in Lima Township, with 21st-century neo-traditional and colonial homes. The median sale price in the area is around $510,000, about $100,000 more than the national median.
Chelsea and Dexter's school districts have As from Niche
The western half of Lima Township is served by the Chelsea School District, which has four schools and an A grade from Niche. In 2025, Chelsea High School won a state title from the Michigan Council on Economic Education for the Personal Finance Challenge for the eighth year in a row. Dexter Community School District covers the township's eastern half, earning an A from Niche. In 2025, the district was approved for a $242 million bond to fund renovations and improvements for its five schools.
The Chelsea State Game Area has almost 1,000 acres of wilderness
In addition to 70 acres of green space, Baker Woods Preserve is the home of the Storybook Trail, which features regularly updated children's book displays along a mile route. The Chelsea State Game Area attracts anglers, hunters and birdwatchers with nearly 1,000 acres of wilderness surrounding Fourmile Lake. The Border to Border Trail is a paved pathway that crosses 42 miles of scenic wilderness and urban settings from Lyndon Township to Ypsilanti.
Most shopping is done out of town
Lima Township has few retail or restaurant options, so locals head out of town to shop. Stivers has been serving laid-back meals with a full bar in Chelsea since the 1940s. Dexter's Jolly Pumpkin maintains a farm-to-table philosophy, sourcing produce and meats from local and regional farms and pastures. Polly's Country Market is available for groceries, and the Briarwood Mall at Ann Arbor has nearly 100 retailers and chain restaurants.
Dexter has seasonal events like the Summer Festival and Apple Daze
The Dexter Summer Festival is an annual celebration of the season with two days of local artisans, live music and food vendors. Every October, Apple Daze attracts visitors from all over the region for a day of hayrides, pumpkin bowling and other seasonal activities.
Ann Arbor is about 15 miles east
Interstate 94 passes through the township's center, providing a direct route to Ann Arbor and Detroit, 15 and 60 miles east, respectively. Just outside the township's western border is Chelsea Hospital, a non-profit medical clinic with a surgery center and emergency facilities.
